There is supposed ‘positivity’ in the air of Tihar Jail these days courtesy the ‘Navgraha Vatika’ — the garden of nine planets — constructed inside the administration block of the jail premises.
The garden, which was constructed by putting together representational structures of nine planets along with trees that signify them, is supposed to be auspicious as per astrology. It is currently open only to inmates of the semi-open jail and staff members, but the authorities are planning to construct one garden in each sub-jail in the near future.
The former Director General (Prisons), Vimla Mehra, said: “For the last one year I had the idea of constructing this garden, but was not able to do so. Last month, I met a person who had knowledge about Celestial Garden and is on a mission to save exotic species. We took his help and did bit of research online and the garden was ready.”
“Many from the Administration Department, including the Director General herself, visit the garden almost everyday. At present, only prisoners from the semi-open prison are able to use it as it is constructed inside the premises of semi-open jail compound but on a later stage all the prisoners will have access to it,” said Tihar spokesperson Sunil Gupta.